ɡɑ:d v. & n. --v. 1 tr. (often foll. by
from, against)
watch over and defend or
protect from
harm. 2 tr.
keep watch by (a
door etc.) so as to
control entry or
exit. 3 tr.
supervise (prisoners etc.) and
prevent from escaping. 4 tr.
provide (machinery)
with a
protective device. 5 tr. keep (thoughts or speech) in check. 6 tr. provide with safeguards. 7 intr. (foll. by against)
take precautions. 8 tr. (in
various games) protect (a
piece, card, etc.) with set moves. --n. 1 a
state of
vigilance or watchfulness. 2 a
person who protects or keeps watch. 3 a
body of soldiers etc.
serving to protect a
place or person; an
escort. 4 US a
prison warder. 5 a
part of an
army detached
for some purpose (advance guard). 6 (in pl.) (usu. Guards)
any of various bodies of troops nominally employed to guard a
monarch. 7 a
thing that protects or defends. 8 (often in comb.) a device
fitted to a
machine,
vehicle,
weapon,
etc., to prevent
injury or
accident to
the user (fire-guard). 9
Brit. an
official who rides with and is in
general charge of a
train. 10 in some sports: a a protective or
defensive player. b a defensive
posture or
motion. øbe on (or keep or stand) guard (of a
sentry etc.) keep watch. guard
cell Bot.
either of a
pair of cells surrounding the
stomata in plants. guard-rail a rail, e.g. a
handrail, fitted as a
support or to prevent an accident. guard ring
Electronics a ring-shaped
electrode used to
limit the
extent of an
electric field,
esp. in a
capacitor. guard's van Brit. a
coach or
compartment occupied by a guard. lower one's guard
reduce vigilance
against attack.
off (or off one's) guard
unprepared for some
surprise or
difficulty. on (or on one's) guard prepared for
all contingencies;
vigilant.
raise one's guard
become vigilant against attack. øøguarder n. guardless adj. [ME f. OF garde, garder ult. f. WG, rel. to
WARD n.]